Caspases in Alzheimer’s Disease

In AD, a significant synaptic loss ranging from 20% to 50% is reported. Biochemistry, elec‐ tron microscopy and immunocytochemistry have shown a decrease in synaptic density, presynaptic terminals, synaptic vesicle and synaptic protein markers in AD brains com‐ pared with the normal aged controls (Terry et al., 1991; Geula, 1998; Larson et al., 1999; Yao et al., 1999; Ashe, 2000; Baloyannis et al., 2000; Terry, 2000; Masliah, 2001; Masliah et al., 2001; Price et al., 2001; Scheff and Price, 2001; Scheff et al., 2001; Stephan et al., 2001; Callahan et al., 2002; Chan et al., 2002; Dodd, 2002). Although synaptic loss is remarkable in AD, it is not specific to AD. Reduction in synaptic density is also found in Pick’s dis‐ ease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease as well as in vascular dementia (Geula, 1998; Larson et al., 1999; Yao et al., 1999; Ashe, 2000; Baloyannis et al., 2000; Terry, 2000; Masliah, 2001; Masliah et al., 2001; Price et al., 2001; Scheff and Price, 2001; Scheff et al., 2001; Stephan et al., 2001; Callahan et al., 2002; Chan et al., 2002; Dodd, 2002).